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Table VIII. shows that during the past 19 years in Chelsea the
average death-rate of females from tuberculosis has only been 54 per cent.
of the male rate. The female rates are lower than the male rates at all
the age-periods, except that of 5-15 years; and the differences are
specially marked in all the age-periods after the age of 25. In the
Annual Report for 1908, these differences between the male and female
death-rates from tuberculosis were the subject of comment.
Under the age of five years there has been a satisfactory decrease in
the mortality from tuberculosis during the past 19 years, both amongst
males and females—the mortality at this age being chiefly due to
tubercular meningitis and the abdominal forms of tuberculosis. At the
next three age-periods (5-15, 15-25, and 25-35) the table also shows a
decided tendency in successive quinquennia towards a diminished
mortality from tuberculosis in both sexes; and this tendency is also
noticeable in females up to the age of 45 years. In males, however,
between the ages of 35 and 65, and in females between the ages of 45
and 65, there would appear to be no very decided tendency to a decrease
in recent years; whilst above the age of 65, in both sexes, an actual
increase in tuberculosis mortality is indicated.
It will also be seen that, taking all ages together, the death-rate of
females from tuberculosis has exhibited a steady decline in each successive
quinquennium ; whilst that of males rose in the second quinquennium as
compared with the first, and although a sharp fall occurred in the third
quinquennium, the rates for 1906-9 and 1901-5 are practically identical.
There are evidently causes at work affecting males over the age of 35,
which are of a temporary or variable nature, and do not appear to
influence females to the same extent. The figures, however, on which
the table is based are not sufficiently numerous to warrant any very
definite conclusions being drawn.
Cancer.—Malignant cancerous disease caused 82 deaths in Chelsea in
1909, the average of the past 18 years being 73 deaths annually. Fortytwo
of the deaths were of North Chelsea residents, and 40 of South
Chelsea.
Alcoholism.—Sixteen deaths were registered in 1909 as being due to
intemperance or cirrhosis of the liver, as against 24 in 1908. These
annual figures merely represent the deaths which are palpably and
unmistakeably the results of alcoholic excess, and take no account of the
far larger numbers which are indirectly due to excessive drinking.
Deaths in Lunatic Asylums.—Forty-nine deaths of Chelsea
parishioners occurred in 1909 in lunatic asylums. The average of the
preceding 18 years is 34 deaths annually in lunatic asylums.
Deaths in Public Institutions.—In 1909, 50.9 per cent. of the total
deaths of parishioners of Chelsea occurred in public institutions, as compared
with 46.4 per cent. in 1908. In London generally, 40.2 per cent. of
the total deaths occurred in public institutions in 1909. The deaths in
the Chelsea Infirmary in 1909 formed 22.7 per cent. of the total deaths of
Borough residents, as compared with 23.1 per cent. in 1908.
Deaths of Common Lodging House Inmates.—Nineteen deaths of
common lodging house inmates occurred in Chelsea in 1909, all but one
taking place in the Chelsea Infirmary. Sixteen of the deaths were of
males, and 3 of females. Nine of the deaths (47 per cent. of the total)